Saturday, February 14
7:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
George Mason
Mountain Hawks host George Mason Saturday in NWCA National Duals Regional
2/11/2015 4:15:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
ICA National Duals Digital Magazine | Match Notes | Tickets | Video | Audio
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the first time since 2005 Lehigh will compete in the NWCA National Duals. The Mountain Hawks welcome George Mason to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall Saturday evening in one of eight National Duals regional matchups. The winner of tonight's dual will advance to the National Duals Championship Finals, February 21-22 in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Lehigh returned from a week off from competition with two convincing wins over Harvard and Brown last Sunday. The Mountain Hawks won 16 of the 17 contested bouts and 18 of 20 weight classes overall. Lehigh is making its fifth appearance in the NWCA National Duals. Competing under a different format, the Mountain Hawks finished fourth in 2005, seventh in 2001 and did not place in 2002 or 1998.
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Seven of Lehigh's 16 bout wins on Sunday produced bonus points, with junior Mason Beckman recording two wins by technical fall and senior Marshall Peppelman earning a pair of major decisions.
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Lehigh has five wrestlers ranked in the latest polls by InterMat, the Open Mat and WIN Magazine. Junior Nathaniel Brown leads the way for Lehigh in all three polls, highlighted by a No. 3 ranking at 184 by InterMat. Elliot Riddick's win over James Fox of Harvard moved him up slightly, while Mitch Minotti moved into the Open Mat and WIN rankings this week. Randy Cruz is ranked by three polls but has yet to crack Flowrestling's rankings.
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Saturday's match will be the final home match for three senior wrestlers. Fifth-year seniors Marshall Peppelman and Santiago Martinez will be recognized prior to the match along with reserve Will Sullivan.
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George Mason carries a 9-9 dual mark into Saturday's match. The Patriots have won two straight duals, defeating EIWA foe Binghamton last Friday night before picking up a road win at Bloomsburg on Sunday. George Mason's most impressive dual meet win was a 17-16 criteria triumph over Big Ten member Maryland on November 9. Lehigh and George Mason have faced five common opponents so far this year with the Mountain Hawks going 3-2 and the Patriots going 2-3 against Navy, Maryland, Franklin & Marshall, Rider and Edinboro.
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Individually, senior heavyweight Jake Kettler was ranked 25th in the initial NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings. He is 23-9 on the season. Greg Flournoy has the second-most wins behind Kettler, with a 21-8 mark at 157. George Mason finished 26th at the Southern Scuffle. Vince Rodriguez lost 5-4 to Mason Beckman in the first round at 133. Former Minnesota assistant Joe Russell is in his fourth season as George Mason's head coach.
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Lehigh has faced George Mason just once in its history, a 40-3 victory at the Northeast Duals in November 2010. Zach Rey's 17 second in of Hunter Manspile in that dual is tied for the seventh fastest fall in school annals.
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Saturday's match gets underway at 7 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours. Please note that as a NWCA sponsored-event, Lehigh ID card holders (students, faculty, and staff) will be required to purchase tickets for Saturday's match. Tickets for Lehigh ID card holders will be $4.
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Fans are encouraged to download the ICA National Duals Magazine, produced by Inside College Athletics and available in the Google Play and Apple App stores. More information on the program can be found HERE.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the first time since 2005 Lehigh will compete in the NWCA National Duals. The Mountain Hawks welcome George Mason to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall Saturday evening in one of eight National Duals regional matchups. The winner of tonight's dual will advance to the National Duals Championship Finals, February 21-22 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Â
Lehigh returned from a week off from competition with two convincing wins over Harvard and Brown last Sunday. The Mountain Hawks won 16 of the 17 contested bouts and 18 of 20 weight classes overall. Lehigh is making its fifth appearance in the NWCA National Duals. Competing under a different format, the Mountain Hawks finished fourth in 2005, seventh in 2001 and did not place in 2002 or 1998.
Â
Seven of Lehigh's 16 bout wins on Sunday produced bonus points, with junior Mason Beckman recording two wins by technical fall and senior Marshall Peppelman earning a pair of major decisions.
Â
Lehigh has five wrestlers ranked in the latest polls by InterMat, the Open Mat and WIN Magazine. Junior Nathaniel Brown leads the way for Lehigh in all three polls, highlighted by a No. 3 ranking at 184 by InterMat. Elliot Riddick's win over James Fox of Harvard moved him up slightly, while Mitch Minotti moved into the Open Mat and WIN rankings this week. Randy Cruz is ranked by three polls but has yet to crack Flowrestling's rankings.
Â
Saturday's match will be the final home match for three senior wrestlers. Fifth-year seniors Marshall Peppelman and Santiago Martinez will be recognized prior to the match along with reserve Will Sullivan.
Â
George Mason carries a 9-9 dual mark into Saturday's match. The Patriots have won two straight duals, defeating EIWA foe Binghamton last Friday night before picking up a road win at Bloomsburg on Sunday. George Mason's most impressive dual meet win was a 17-16 criteria triumph over Big Ten member Maryland on November 9. Lehigh and George Mason have faced five common opponents so far this year with the Mountain Hawks going 3-2 and the Patriots going 2-3 against Navy, Maryland, Franklin & Marshall, Rider and Edinboro.
Â
Individually, senior heavyweight Jake Kettler was ranked 25th in the initial NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings. He is 23-9 on the season. Greg Flournoy has the second-most wins behind Kettler, with a 21-8 mark at 157. George Mason finished 26th at the Southern Scuffle. Vince Rodriguez lost 5-4 to Mason Beckman in the first round at 133. Former Minnesota assistant Joe Russell is in his fourth season as George Mason's head coach.
Â
Lehigh has faced George Mason just once in its history, a 40-3 victory at the Northeast Duals in November 2010. Zach Rey's 17 second in of Hunter Manspile in that dual is tied for the seventh fastest fall in school annals.
Â
Saturday's match gets underway at 7 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours. Please note that as a NWCA sponsored-event, Lehigh ID card holders (students, faculty, and staff) will be required to purchase tickets for Saturday's match. Tickets for Lehigh ID card holders will be $4.
Â
Fans are encouraged to download the ICA National Duals Magazine, produced by Inside College Athletics and available in the Google Play and Apple App stores. More information on the program can be found HERE.
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| Date: | February 14, 2015 |
| Event: | NWCA National Duals Regional |
| Opponent: | George Mason Patriots |
| First match: | 7:05 p.m. |
| Arena: | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 12-4 overall, 8-1 EIWA |
| George Mason's Record: | 9-9 overall, 3-3 EWL |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 1-0 |
| Streak: | Lehigh won the only other dual 40-3 in Nov. 2001 |
| Television: | None |
| Radio: | ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell |
| Internet broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Behind enemy lines: | http://www.gomason.com/ |
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Wrestling
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/ Men's Wrestling
141
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165
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
165/174
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197
/ Men's Wrestling
165
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